Caerlan Farm is part of 'Tir Gofal', the flagship agri-environment scheme run by Welsh Assembly Government, we have a lot of conservation work going on.
We were the first farm in the Rhondda Cynon Taff are to be accepted into 'Tir Gofal' scheme, we will be allowing the public permissive access and hosting school visits.
Wildlife
Our land includes many large areas of natural woodland and marshland supporting a wide variety of indigenous species: herons, buzzards,owls, woodpeckers, rabbits and bats are full time residents on our land. Recent spottings are red kites, hen harrier.
Grassland Management
We use traditional methods of grassland management and the fields are improved and fenced in sympathy with the natural environment. Herbicides, insecticides and fungicides are never sprayed, spot treatments for weed control for nettles and thistles are used only where necessary.
Footpaths
Many footpaths cross our land and the 'considerate walker' is always welcome. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times, we appreciate the differences between well controlled harmless dogs, obviously well cared for, but our sheep don't! Whenever there is a dog loose, even if it shows no interest in sheep, sheep automatically move away and stop grazing. Even worse when they have young lambs with them, as lambs often get mismothered and can spend several hours without suckling, which is not good!
What do we mean
by the considerate walker?
One who chooses to walk dogs in fields that do not have sheep in. Or one that doesn't walk right through the middle of a field of sheep, and one that doesn't walk through the middle of a standing grass crop for hay and silage, leaving a fallen grass track behind them! One that uses stiles and doesn't climb fences.
And we have just described most of our regular walkers!
School Links
We are part of the Speakers Panel for Primary Schools. This initiative is supported by the farming unions, it is free to schools and the speakers provide their services on a voluntary basis.
We have visited schools all over South East Wales, and we are members of Women's Food and Farming Union – which means we can can give talks to your schools about food and its origins FREE!!.
If you would be interested in us visiting your school or in visiting the farm to find out about farming or our conservation work and are situated in the area, please contact us for details. We now have a training room and toilet facilities at the farm for field trips, please note that only minibuses can access the farm and not coaches.
Environment Latest
We are fortunate to have Nick Heins with us as our full time Environmental Training Manager. Nick has a Masters degree in Environmental conservation and is project managing much of the work for Tir Gofal. He is our main environmental in-house trainer, with particular links to Lantra training; he is establishing an orchard at the moment on the farm and we are very glad to have his services.
Nick is also in the process of mapping the wildlife on the farm and is a wealth of information for our school visits.
We are part of the RSPB bird survey and was a finalist in the Rhondda Cynon Taff Gardening for Wildlife Competition in 2003.
